10/09/2026
The Heart of the Beast — 6/10
The Heart of the Beast is a brutal examination of the often-underrepresented conflict of man versus nature. Possibly inspired by the writings of White Fang author Jack London, director David Ayer brings the Alaskan wilderness to life through every bump, bruise, and broken bone Brad Pitt’s character experiences after suffering a heart attack mid-flight over the backwoods of Alaska.
Beautifully shot and relentless in the tragedies that befall Pitt’s retired Special Forces sergeant, the film is a tough and unforgiving survival story. Its co-lead, Odin, is ultimately the heart of the film. Unfortunately, the dog gives the audience more to love than Pitt, which is unusual. Pitt is intentionally stoic throughout, but that choice left me wanting more from his performance. He has a few strong emotional moments and clearly endured a lot during filming, but I wanted the human character to bring a little more to the story.
It isn’t a bad film by any means, and plenty of the audience had shed a tear by the end. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that a longer cut exists somewhere, one that gives us more reason to care about these characters. The film is emotionally and physically punishing, and I often felt as beaten down as its protagonist. Given the simplicity of the story, I had hoped for a little more warmth and hope along the way.
Perhaps that is the point. The film thoroughly demonstrates how poorly human beings measure up against the emotionless instinct, brutality, and pecking order of the wilderness. It will likely divide audiences, but it is worth watching, especially for dog lovers. Odin is the true star of the show.
6/10